Carrier



April 24, 1962 R. J. WHORTON CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 19, 1959 INVENTOR. Ho bert I Whovtoh. BY

April 24, 1962 R. J. WHORTON CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 19. 1959 INVENTOR.

y Robert J: W w

Rttorn. eys

3,@3l,162 Patented Apr. 24, 1962 3,031,162 CAR Robert J. Whorton, 1604 8th Ave. W., Birmingham, Ala. Filed June 19, 1959, Ser. No. 821,428 2 Claims. (Cl. 248-300) This invention relates to a carrier for generally cylindrical objects, such as beverage containers and the like and has for an object the provision of such a carrier which shall be adjustable to various sizes for accommodating various size objects.

Another object of my invention is to provide a carrier of the character designated which shall be adapted for folding into a compact unit when not in use, thereby requiring a minimum of space for storage and shipping.

Another object of my invention is to provide a carrier of the character designated which shall be simple of construction, economical of manufacture and one which shall be particularly adapted for mass production.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a carrier of the character designated which shall be sturdy of construction and adapted for attachment to conventional type automobile doors.

Briefly, my improved carrier comprises a bottom wall panel connected to front and rear wall panels. Extending outwardly of each side of the front and rear wall panels are side wall panels. The side wall panels are adjustably connected to each other whereby the distance between the front and rear wall panels may be varied to accommodate various size objects. Secured to the rear wall panel is a flexible attaching member which is adapted to engage a suitable supporting structure whereby the entire carrier is supported therefrom.

Carriers embodying features of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing one form of blank for forming my improved carrier;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the carrier formed from the blank shown in FIG. 1, the side wall panel connected to the front wall panel being shown in unfolded position, for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the completed carrier formed from the blank shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing a modified form of carrier;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a carrier formed from the blank shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing another modified form of my invention, the member for supporting the carrier from a supporting structure being broken away;

- FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the carrier shown in FIG. 6, showing the carrier partly assembled;

FIG. 8 is .a side elevational view of another modified form of my invention; I

FIG. 9 is aside elevational view of the carrier shown in FIG. 8, shoiviifg the carrier partly assembled; and,

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a still further modified form of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 3, the blank from which the carrier is formed comprises a bottom wall panel 10 foldably connected at one side to a front wall panel 11. The side of the bottom wall panel 10 opposite the front wall panel 11 is foldably connected to a back wall panel 12. Connected to opposite ends of the bottom wall panel 10 are side wall panels 13 and 14.

panel 11 are side wall panels 16 and 17. In like manner,

Foldably connected to opposite sides of the front wall foldably connected to opposite sides of the rear wall panel 12 are side wall panels 18 and 19. A plurality of slits 21 are provided in the side wall panels 18 and 19 for receiving locking tabs 22 which are carried by the side wall panels 16 and 17, respectively. Preferably, the locking tabs 22 are scored along line 23 whereby the locking tabs frictionally engage the adjacent edges of the slits 21. The side wall panels 18 and 19 are scored along lines 20, as shown in FIG. 1, whereby they are adapted to move in a curved path inwardly of the front wall panel 11 when the locking tabs 22 are positioned in slots 21 nearer the back wall panel 12 to accommodate smaller size articles.

Foldably connected to the upper end of the back wall panel 12 is a flexible member 24 for attaching the carrier to a suitable supporting structure, such as the door of an automobile, indicated generally at 26. That is, the flexible member 24 overlies the inner surface of the door 26 adjacent the glass 27 whereby the free end of the member 24 extends downwardly between the glass 27 and the ad jacent portion of the door 26, as clearly shown in FIG. 2.

For-med integrally with the lower portion of the side wall panels 16 and 17 are upwardly projecting hook-like members 28 which are adapted to engage a suitable receptacle for rubbish and waste materials, whereby such materials are not thrown onto the streets and highways.

The carrier shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 is assembled by folding the front wall panel 11 and the rear wall panel 12 upwardly normal to the bottom Wall panel 10. The side wall panels 18 and 19 are then folded inwardly normal to the back wall panel. The side wall panels 13 and 14 are than folded upwardly and inwardly alongside the outer surface of the side wall panels 18 and 19, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The side wall panels 16 and 17 are then folded inwardly alongside the outer surface of the side wall panels 13 and 14 and the locking tabs 22 are inserted in the adjacent slits 21, as shown in FIG. 3. By positioning the locking tabs 22 in selected ones of the slits 21, the distance between the front wall panel 11 and the rear wall panel 12 may be adjusted to accommodate various size articles.

With the carrier thus assembled, the flexible member 24 is attached to a suitable structure, such as the door of an automobile, by inserting the free end of the flexible member between the glass 27 and the door 26, as shown in FIG. 2. To further aid in securing the flexible member 24 between the glass 27 and the door 26 of the automobile, the flexible member 24 may be provided with outwardly extending flap members 29 which are connected to the main body portion of the member 24 by scored lines 31. While I have shown the carrier in FIGS. 1 through 3 as being adapted for holding a single article, it will be apparent that the carrier may be of a width to support a plurality of articles.

In FIG. 4 of the drawings I show a carrier blank which comprises a bottom wall 1i foldably connected at one side to a front wall panel 11 The other side of the bottom wall panel 111 is foldably connected to a rear wall panel 12 Foldably connected to opposite sides of the bottom wall panel 10*, as shown in FIG. 4, are side wall panels 13 and 14 Foldably connected to the front wall panel are side wall panels 16 and 17 In like manner, foldably connected to opposite sides of the rear wall panel 12 are side wall panel 18 and 19 Secured to the end of the rear wall panel opposite the bottom wall panel 10 is a flexible member 24 for attaching the carrier to a suitable supporting structure, as described hereinabove.

The side wallpanels 16 and 17 overlay the side wall panels 18 and 19 respectively, as shown in FIG. 5. A plurality of openings 21* are provided in the side wall panels 18 and 19 and suitable openings 22 are provided in the side wall panels 16 and 17 for receiving a securing member, such as a pin or fastener 32. By placing the fastener 32 in selected ones of the openings 21 the distance between the front wall panel 11 and the rear wall panel 12 may be adjusted to accommodate various size objects. Preferably, the container is divided into separate compartments by partition members 33 and 34 carried by the front and rear wall panels, as shown in FIG. 4. The ends of the partition members 33 and 34 are slit as at 36 and 37, respectively, whereby they interlock each other, as shown in FIG. 5, when the container is assembled.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, I show a further modified form of my invention in which the carrier is substantially identical to the carrier shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. That is, the carrier comprises a bottom wall panel 10, a front wall panel 11 and a back wall 12. The bottom wall panel is foldably connected to the front wall panel and the back wall panel and to side wall panels 14, as shown. The front wall panel 11 is foldably connected to side wall panels 17 having locking tabs 22 thereon and the back wall panel 12 is foldably connected to side wall panels 19 having slits 21 therein for receiving the locking tabs 22 whereby the front and rear wall panels may be secured at selected positions relative to each other.

The principal difference between the carrier shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 from the carrier shown in FIGS. 1-3 is the provision of an arcuate slit 38 in the side wall panels 19, as shown, for receiving the free ends of the side wall panels 14 when the carrier is assembled, as shown in FIG. 6. That is, the side wall panels 14 enter the arcuate slit 38 whereby the side wall panels 14 are held in assembled relationship to the adjacent part of the carrier.

In FIGS. 8 and 9 I show another modified form of my invention in which the carrier comprises a bottom wall panel 10* which is foldably connected at opposite sides to a front wall panel 11 and a rear wall panel 12. Foldably connected to the front wall panel 11 are side wall panels 17 and foldably connected to the sides of the back wall panel 12 are side wall panels 19 Foldably connected to opposite sides of the bottom wall panel 10 in position to lie between the side wall panels 17 and 19 are side wall panels 14*.

The side wall panels 17 are detachably connected to the side wall panels 19' by attaching disc-like members 39 to the side wall panels 17 and 19 by suitable fasteners 41. A flexible member such as a cord 42 is attached at one end to one of the disc members 39 so that the free end thereof may be wound about the fastener for the other disc member 35?, whereby the free ends of the cords are interposed between the side wall panels and the adjacent disc members. To further aid in locking the side wall panels 17 and 19 to each other, recesses 43 and 44 are provided in the side wall panel 17 for engaging corresponding recesses 46 and 47 carried by the side wall panel 19 A suitable flexible member 24 is foldably connected to the end of the back wall panel 12 at the side thereof opposite the bottom wall panel 10', whereby the carrier may be easily attached to a supporting structure as described hereinabove.

In FIG. 10 of the drawing, I show a still further modified form of my invention in which the carrier is very similar to the embodiments described hereinabove. That is, the carrier comprises a bottom wall panel 10 which is foldably connected to a front wall panel 11 and a back wall panel 12. Side wall panels 17 are foldably connected to opposite sides of the front wall panel 11 and side Wall panels 19 are foldably connected to opposite sides of the back wall panel 12. Also side wall panels 14 are foldably connected to opposite sides of the bottom wall panel 10 in position to lie between the side wall panels 17 and 19.

The side wall panels 17 and 19 are detachably connected to each other by providing slits 48 in the side wall panel 17 for receiving suitable locking tabs 49 carried by the free ends of the side wall panels 19. In like manner, suitable slits 51 are provided in the side wall panels 19 for receiving locking tabs 52 carried by the free ends of the side wall panels 17, as shown. A suitable flexible member 24 is foldably connected to the end of the back wall panel 12 opposite the bottom wall panel 16 for attaching the carrier to a suitable supporting structure as described hereinabove.

While I have shown the hook members 28 for attaching a waste container or bag thereto in association with only the embodiment shown in FIGS. l-3, it will be apparent that the hook-like members 28 could be attaohed to or formed integrally with the other embodiments of my invention.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved carrier for generally cylindrical articles. By providing means for detachably and adjustably connecting the side wall panels of the carrier, the carrier may be readily assembled in a minimum of time and may be adjusted to accommodate various size articles. Also, the side wall panels are positively attached to each other in view of the fact that the locking tabs are so positioned that they tend to grip the corresponding member firmly upon applying pressure in a direction to move the front wall panel away from the back wall panel. Furthermore, by providing a collapsible carrier, together with means for attaching a waste disposal bag thereto, the carrier is particularly adapted for use in automobiles and the like for holding beverages and at the same time providing convenient means for disposing of waste materials without having to throw the same out the automobile windows onto the highways, streets and the like.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A carrier for generally cylindrical objects comprising a bottom wall panel, a front wall panel foldably connected to said bottom wall panel, a back wall panel foldably connected to said bottom Wall panel opposite the side thereof on which said front wall panel is connected, side Wall panels foldably connected to opposite sides of said front wall panel, other side wall panels foldably connected to opposite sides of said back wall panel, locking tabs carried by one of the side wall panels at each side of the carrier, there being a plurality of spaced apart slots in the other side wall panels at each side of the carrier for receiving said locking tabs whereby the side wall panels carried by the front wall panel are connected to the other side wall panels carried by the back wall panel at selected positions to vary the distance between the front wall panel and the back wall panel, said slots in the side wall panels extending downwardly and forwardly and said locking tabs extending upwardly and forwardly, and flexible means carried by said back wall panel for attaching said carrier to a supporting structure.

2. A carrier for generally cylindrical objects comprising a bottom wall panel, a front wall panel foldably connected to said bottom wall panel, a back wall panel foldably connected to said bottom wall panel opposite the side thereof on which said front wall panel is connected, side Wall panels foldably connected to opposite sides of said front wall panel, other side wall panels foldably connected to opposite sides of said back wall panel, locking tabs carried by the side wall panels at one side of the carrier, there being a plurality of spaced apart slots in the side wall panels at the other side of the carrier for receiving said locking tabs whereby the side wall panels carried by the front wall panel are connected to the other side Wall panels carried by the back wall panel at selected positions to vary the distance between the front wall panel and the back wall panel, said slots in the side wall panels extending downwardly and forwardly and said locking tabs extending upwardly and forwardly, fiap members foldably connected to opposite sides of said bottom wall panel between the side wall panels carried by said front wall panel and said back wall panel, there being slits in the side wall panels carried by said back wall for receiving said flaps, and flexible means carried by said back wall panel for attaching said carrier to a supporting structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Marsh Aug. 6, 1929 Hause Oct. 17, 1933 Goldman May 22, 1951 Schoon Nov. 6, 1951 Martin Mar. 15, 1955 Anderson Mar. 27, 1956 MacKay Nov. 13, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain of 1907 

